243 LOAD CHOOICE FOR DEER?
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Nebraska
Posts: 3,393
RE: 243 LOAD CHOOICE?
being from Georgia, I' ll assume you' re after deer.
All the major factory loads of 100 grains will do the job nicely. If you can get hand loads I' d suggest Hornady' s 100 grain spire point.
All the major factory loads of 100 grains will do the job nicely. If you can get hand loads I' d suggest Hornady' s 100 grain spire point.
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Oakland OR USA
Posts: 2,929
RE: 243 LOAD CHOOICE FOR DEER?
I have been using a 243 win for quite awhile and have tried just about every kind of bullet out there and find the 85gr Barnes XBT works fine for me . That might not be a popular choice with a lot of people but it has always worked for me .
#9
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 16
RE: 243 LOAD CHOOICE FOR DEER?
THIS ADVISE WILL BE CONTRARY TO ALL THOSE MAGAZINE ARTICLES THAT TELL YOU TO GO WITH THE HEAVIEST BULLETS YOU CAN...I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE, AS WE BUTCHER OUR OWN DEER SO THAT WE KNOW HOW BADLY THE BULLETS FRAGMENT...I HAVE USED HORNADAY INTERLOCK BULLETS SUCH AS THOSE FOUND IN HORNADAY LIGHT MAGNUM AMMO...THEY ARENT A BAD LOAD AND ARE A QUIK KILLER...HOWEVER,SIERRA MAKES A 85 GRAIN HOLLOW POINT BOAT TAIL BULLET ...GAME KING..THAT I HAVE SHOT DEER IN THE SHOULDER WITH THESE AND DOWN THEY FALL..THE BULLET HOLDS TOGETHER WELL, WITH LESS FRAGMENTATION ON AVERAGE THAN THE HEAVIER INTERLOCK BULLETS...I KNOW I AM LETTING MYSELF OPEN FOR A LOT OF CRITICISM HERE,BUT I SPEAK FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE...I CALLED SIERRA SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND THIS IS THE BULLET THEY RECOMMENDED FOR DEER...I HAD MY DOUBTS ABOUT THEM MYSELF...BUT THE PROOF IS IN THE PUTTING..EVIDENTLY THESE BULLETS ARE MADE OF A TOUGHER MATERIAL...I ALSO TRIED WINCHESTER 100 GRAIN POWER POINTS,AND THEY WERE TERRIBLE..MY DAUGHTER SHOT A DOE ,PERFECT SHOT ,AT 50 YDS...AFTER MUCH HUNTING WE FOUND IT ,ABOUT 300 YDS AWWAY WITH A SURFACE WOUND IN THE RIBS...NO EXIT HOLE...SO MUCH FOR THAT 100 GRAINER...GOOD DAY!